SonicFox

{{Short description|American professional esports player (born 1998)}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{pp-semi|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox video game player | ID = SonicFox | name = Dominique McLean | name_trans = | image = SonicFox at Combo Breaker 2019 - Loser Finals.jpg | caption = SonicFox at Combo Breaker 2019 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|3|2}}<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1499048265790144518 |user=SonicFox |title=So many birthday wishes to keep track of 😭 Thank you so much! Cheers to many more birthdays! 24 now! |date=March 2, 2022 |access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> | birth_place = | role = | league = | career_start = 2012 | career_end = | years1 = 2014–2015 | team1 = Revolution Gaming | years2 = 2015–2016 | team2 = Critical Reaction | years3 = 2017–2019 | team3 = Echo Fox | years4 = 2020–2023 | team4 = Evil Geniuses | years5 = 2025–present | team5 = FlyQuest | games = {{ubl|''Mortal Kombat''|''Injustice: Gods Among Us''|''Dragon Ball FighterZ''}} }}

'''Dominique McLean''' (born March 2, 1998), known professionally as '''SonicFox''', is an American professional esports player of several fighting games, currently signed to FlyQuest.<ref name="Richman">{{cite news |last1=Richman |first1=Olivia |title=Evo champion SonicFox signs with FlyQuest |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2025/12/evo-champion-sonicfox-signs-with-flyquest |access-date=December 13, 2025 |work=Esports Insider |date=December 13, 2025}}</ref> They{{Efn|McClean uses ''he/him'' and ''they/them'' pronouns but reserves the use of ''he/him'' for close friends.<ref name=":0" /> This article uses ''they/them'' for consistency.}} have topped many tournaments, including eight Evolution Championship Series (EVO) events for five different game franchises. They are the highest paid fighting game esports player in the world as of August 4, 2019, with over $719,204.94 in earnings. They are famous for wins in Mortal Kombat and Injustice, both produced by Netherrealm Studios.<ref name="Sonoma">{{cite news |last1=Sonoma |first1=Serena |title=SonicFox, Gay "LeBron James of Gaming," Is Still Winning |url=https://www.out.com/2019/8/04/sonicfox-gay-lebron-james-gaming-still-winning |access-date=May 13, 2021 |work=Out Magazine |date=August 4, 2019 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513154418/https://www.out.com/2019/8/04/sonicfox-gay-lebron-james-gaming-still-winning |url-status=live }}</ref> McLean was named Esports Player of the Year at The Game Awards 2018 and included in ''Forbes''{{'s}} 2020 "30 Under 30" for Games.

As a furry, McLean is known to compete in the fursuit of their fursona, a blue-and-white anthropomorphic fox.

== Career == McLean's older brother, Christian, got McLean interested in fighting video games when McLean was three years old.<ref name="bet">{{cite web | url = https://www.bet.com/news/sports/2017/09/15/meet-the-guy-who-has-your-dream-job-sonicfox.html | title = Meet The Guy Who Has Your Dream Job | first = Mark | last = Lelinwalla | date = September 15, 2017 | access-date = December 7, 2018 | work = BET | archive-date = August 10, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200810224636/https://www.bet.com/news/sports/2017/09/15/meet-the-guy-who-has-your-dream-job-sonicfox.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> Over the next several years, while McLean continued to play games, they came into the furry fandom around the age of ten or eleven, and developed the "SonicFox" character.<ref name="kotaku">{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/meet-sonicfox-the-queer-furry-whos-destroying-everyone-1829716953 | title = Meet SonicFox, The Queer Furry Who's Destroying Everyone Else At Fighting Games | first1 = Maddy | last1 = Myers | first2 = Paul | last2 = Tayamo | date = October 15, 2018 | access-date = December 7, 2018 | work = Kotaku | archive-date = October 15, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181015171021/https://kotaku.com/meet-sonicfox-the-queer-furry-whos-destroying-everyone-1829716953 | url-status = live }}</ref> They are known to participate in tournaments in the fursuit of their fursona, a blue-and-white anthropomorphic fox.<ref name="kotaku"/>

Around 2011, McLean was playing in non-competitive online ''Mortal Kombat'' games, and their online friends encouraged them to try their skills at an offline ''Mortal Kombat'' tournament in 2012.<ref name="ddot">{{Cite web | url = https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/dominique-sonic-fox-mclean-20-under-20/ | title = Dominique 'Sonic Fox' McLean is at the top of his game | first = Aaron | last = Sankin | date = December 10, 2015 | access-date = December 7, 2018 | work = The Daily Dot | archive-date = November 8, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108085925/https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/dominique-sonic-fox-mclean-20-under-20/ | url-status = live }}</ref> While McLean only came in ninth at the event, they were enthraled with the competitive atmosphere, and they have continued to participate in various fighting game championships.<ref name="kotaku"/>

McLean achieved a 6–0 victory at the ''Injustice: Gods Among Us'' tournament at Evo 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/se-en/evo-2014-highlights|work=Red Bull|title=The ridiculous battles of EVO 2014 you have to see|last=Warr|first=Philippa|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-date=January 18, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240118144758/https://www.redbull.com/se-en/evo-2014-highlights|url-status=live}}</ref> ''News.com.au'' reported in December 2015 that McLean had not lost a single tournament in the previous 18 months, and that they earned $150,000 USD within the span of two weeks by winning ''Mortal Kombat'' tournaments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/home-entertainment/gaming/dominique-sonic-fox-mclean-made-150000-in-two-weeks-playing-mortal-kombat/news-story/9e0b8b36a3279e773c4062e2941e86b3|work=News.com.au|title=Dominique 'Sonic Fox' McLean made $150,000 in two weeks playing Mortal Kombat|last=Dunn|first=Matthew|date=December 15, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922122209/https://www.news.com.au/technology/home-entertainment/gaming/dominique-sonic-fox-mclean-made-150000-in-two-weeks-playing-mortal-kombat/news-story/9e0b8b36a3279e773c4062e2941e86b3|url-status=live}}</ref>

McLean was named the "Esports Player of the Year" at The Game Awards 2018 ceremony, earning media attention for their acceptance speech.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/sonicfox-steals-the-show-at-the-game-awards-1830927795 | title = SonicFox Steals The Show At The Game Awards | first = Heather | last = Alexandra | date = December 7, 2018 | access-date = December 7, 2018 | work = Kotaku | archive-date = December 7, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181207092814/https://kotaku.com/sonicfox-steals-the-show-at-the-game-awards-1830927795 | url-status = live }}</ref> ''Forbes'' included McLean on their 2020 "30 Under 30" in the Games category.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2020/games/ | title = Forbes' 2020 30 Under 30 - Games: Leading a technological and artistic revolution | first1 = Matt | last1 = Perez | first2 = Kenrick | last2 = Cai | date = December 3, 2019 | access-date = December 3, 2019 | work = Forbes | archive-date = September 30, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200930033649/https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2020/games/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

In early 2020, SonicFox signed with the fighting games division of the esports team ''Evil Geniuses''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Noah |title=SonicFox signs with Evil Geniuses |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/esports/2020/03/18/sonic-fox-signs-with-evil-geniuses/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=16 October 2023 |archive-date=July 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718131358/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/esports/2020/03/18/sonic-fox-signs-with-evil-geniuses/ |url-status=live }}</ref> SonicFox was added as a background character in ''Skullgirls'' later that year.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/skullgirls-honors-two-high-level-queer-players-in-lates-1843683677 | title = Skullgirls Honors Two High-Level Queer Players In Latest Update | first = Ian | last = Walker | date = May 26, 2020 | access-date = May 26, 2020 | work = Kotaku | archive-date = October 31, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201031181755/https://kotaku.com/skullgirls-honors-two-high-level-queer-players-in-lates-1843683677 | url-status = live }}</ref> They announced their departure from Evil Geniuses in late 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mclaughlin |first1=Declan |title=FGC legend SonicFox leaves Evil Geniuses without a new destination |url=https://www.dexerto.com/mortal-kombat/fgc-legend-sonicfox-departs-eg-without-a-new-destination-2334538/ |website=dexerto |date=October 12, 2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118144448/https://www.dexerto.com/mortal-kombat/fgc-legend-sonicfox-departs-eg-without-a-new-destination-2334538/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2025, SonicFox would sign with the fighting games division of FlyQuest.<ref name="Richman" />

== Personal life == McLean was raised in Townsend, Delaware.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/all-hail-the-fox/|title=How a Trash-Talking Furry Became Esports' Dominant Player|last=Van Allen|first=Eric|magazine=Wired|date=January 26, 2019|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805165515/https://www.wired.com/story/all-hail-the-fox/|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2018, McLean was a student at the New York Institute of Technology.<ref name="kotaku"/> McLean chose to focus on academics while still maintaining a balance between their professional gaming and school life.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Student Profile: Dominique "SonicFox" McLean {{!}} Box {{!}} New York Tech|url=https://www.nyit.edu/box/profiles/student_profile_dominique_sonicfox_mclean|access-date=2021-10-19|website=www.nyit.edu|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019224515/https://www.nyit.edu/box/profiles/student_profile_dominique_sonicfox_mclean|url-status=live}}</ref> McLean is openly gay.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1157906069932269573|user=SonicFox|title=Im gay And the BEST MK11 PLAYER ON THE PLANET DONT FORGET IT |date=August 4, 2019}}</ref> In September 2019, McLean came out on Twitter as non-binary.<ref name="McLean Twitter">{{cite tweet|number=1168910673168031747|user=SonicFox|title=Hey ya'll! I've been thinking critically about myself these last couple of months, and my entire life perspective o… |accessdate=September 3, 2019|date=September 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.outsports.com/2019/9/5/20849513/esports-sonicfox-nonbinary-gay-lgbt-coming-out |title=Evo champion SonicFox comes out as non-binary |last=Bell |first=Brian C. |date=September 5, 2019 |website=Outsports |access-date=February 13, 2020 |archive-date=March 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303113435/https://www.outsports.com/2019/9/5/20849513/esports-sonicfox-nonbinary-gay-lgbt-coming-out |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=SonicFox, the gay, furry, esports player of 2018, sounds off and won't stop|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/esports/2019/02/12/sonicfox-gay-furry-esports-player-sounds-off-wont-stop/|access-date=2021-10-19|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=September 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922234620/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/esports/2019/02/12/sonicfox-gay-furry-esports-player-sounds-off-wont-stop/|url-status=live}}</ref> McLean publicly uses ''they/them'' pronouns, reserving use of ''he/him'' only for those to whom they are close, in order to help normalize the use of singular ''they''.<ref name=":0">{{cite tweet|number=1172597487560994821|user=SonicFox|title=Also to clarify on my pronouns, I am alright with most of my close friends to use he or they, but I've been specifically letting the FGC only use they/them. It isn't as normalized in that environment, and am trying to change that in this space! It's been working well!!!}}</ref>

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Twitch|sonicfox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:SonicFox}} Category:1998 births Category:American esports players Category:American non-binary sportspeople Category:Echo Fox players Category:Evil Geniuses players Category:Fighting game players Category:Furry fandom people Category:The Game Awards winners Category:LGBTQ esports players Category:LGBTQ people from Delaware Category:Living people Category:Mortal Kombat players Category:New York Institute of Technology alumni Category:Non-binary gay people Category:People from New Castle County, Delaware Category:Sportspeople from Delaware Category:21st-century American sportspeople